Dusty Hanshaw
IFBB Pro / Featured Member / Kilo Klub
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Featured Member
Kilo Klub Member
Registered
- Joined
- May 24, 2007
- Messages
- 1,189
One thing that I love about this sport is how as athletes we can actually see what all of the arm chair quarterbacks have to say about us as athletes. It is absolutely amazing to me as a competitor to see just how far fans and anti fans will go to show where they stand on placings and physiques. While some are giving sound assessments others are clearly blinded by lack of knowledge and emotion. For example when I lost the overall I hated hearing how I "got screwed" and how "Matt Lowden should have never beaten you." By my friends and fans. I mean I had no problem with the call and I was the "loser." It was a preference made by the judges and we know entering this sport that it is subjective. During the show I got to know Matt learned a lot about him and have nothing but respect for him as an athlete and just all around good guy. He did not make the decision and was a gracious winner.
Fast forward six weeks and I have people telling me I got screwed and K.W. is a joke, B. Yerskey is a this, R. Burneika is a fat slob. Then I also see from others that I am a disgrace to the sport and have all of these weak body parts and my physique is just ugly. It was a joke that I beat Kuclo...yada yada yada.
My point here is simple. Number one if you get into this understand with every person that thinks you are great there will be yet another telling you you are a joke. One guy will say you got screwed and another will say your placings are a gift. To me it is just funny because the REAL ATHLETES who bust their ass to be the best they can possibly be share a mutual respect that is awesome. Did I see some things in my class and in others that I thought could have been different? Damn right!! But that doesn't mean I am right. It's just my opinion. What is truly awesome being a part the brotherhood that takes place between athletes that understand the sacrifices that they and all of the other athletes made to reach the pinnacle of the NPC of bodybuilding.
The most enjoyable part of both the Jr Nats and USA's was hanging with the people who share my passion. I now consider Steve K, Matt L, R Burneika, C Lacount, P Cicone, and so many others friends. Some are better athletes than me others I am better than and it means absolutely nothing. We are all working toward improvement and want to see our friends/competition do the same. This sport is a brotherhood and I for one couldn't be more happy than I am to be a part of it no matter who ends up winning when the dust settles and the lights go down.
Fast forward six weeks and I have people telling me I got screwed and K.W. is a joke, B. Yerskey is a this, R. Burneika is a fat slob. Then I also see from others that I am a disgrace to the sport and have all of these weak body parts and my physique is just ugly. It was a joke that I beat Kuclo...yada yada yada.
My point here is simple. Number one if you get into this understand with every person that thinks you are great there will be yet another telling you you are a joke. One guy will say you got screwed and another will say your placings are a gift. To me it is just funny because the REAL ATHLETES who bust their ass to be the best they can possibly be share a mutual respect that is awesome. Did I see some things in my class and in others that I thought could have been different? Damn right!! But that doesn't mean I am right. It's just my opinion. What is truly awesome being a part the brotherhood that takes place between athletes that understand the sacrifices that they and all of the other athletes made to reach the pinnacle of the NPC of bodybuilding.
The most enjoyable part of both the Jr Nats and USA's was hanging with the people who share my passion. I now consider Steve K, Matt L, R Burneika, C Lacount, P Cicone, and so many others friends. Some are better athletes than me others I am better than and it means absolutely nothing. We are all working toward improvement and want to see our friends/competition do the same. This sport is a brotherhood and I for one couldn't be more happy than I am to be a part of it no matter who ends up winning when the dust settles and the lights go down.